I’m just curious, when did it become okay for our elected officials, the people we put in office, to come out against the will of the people and try and overturn it? I am sick and tired of our elected officials coming out against prop 8. If prop 8 was illegal why was it put on the ballot? Give me a break!

There are 29 other states that have passed similar laws and amendments. Why is California not allowed the same right? More voters turned out in California to vote on this proposition than in any of the other states. The people have spoken, isn’t it obvious that the majority of Californians, and Americans for that matter, do not want same-sex marriage. No one said they did not think same-sex couples don’t have the right to be together. No one said same-sex couples don’t have the right to equal protection under the law. What the people are saying is we don’t want marriage redefined. Isn’t that one of the oppositions arguments? Aren’t they trying to say that prop 8 is redefining the constitution? What about my right to defend the definition of marriage? Don’t I have a right to defend the definition of something I hold dear? I think the answer to all of these questions is YES. There is one big difference though, when I was exercising my right to defend something I believe in, I did it peacefully. I never protested, though I was irate that Gavin Newson thought that he had the right to single-handedly overturn the will of the people, just because he wanted to win a few brownie points. I never yelled and screamed, called people horrible names, or defaced other people’s property because I was livid that four judges thought that they had the right to overturn the will of the people. What happened to my right to vote, and know that my vote counts for something? I already know that when it comes to voting for a president, I’m usually in the minority and my vote doesn’t really count. But when I vote for local and state issues I expect my vote to count for something. I expect my voice to be heard and respected. I expect my government and judicial system to honor my decisions and not just throw them out if they disagree with them. The people have spoken TWICE. This time an even larger number of people turned out to vote to have their voices heard. Why is our state and local government refusing to listen?

The civil rights act prohibits discrimination on basis of “race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.”

It is my understanding that sex is in reference to gender- male or female, and as far as I know there are only two genders.

If homosexuals are given the right to marry under the guise of discrimination, aren’t we then creating special sub-genders? Thus discriminating against everyone else who does not fit into that special sub-gender.

Please stop the insanity. If you look at this logically, the only logical thing to do is Vote YES on prop.8

I came across this post. I don’t think I could have said it any better. Please enjoy!

One of the most prevalent arguments I have seen in recent weeks against Proposition 8 is that the amendment is wrong because it would treat people separately but equal. Those who are against Proposition 8 argue that being able to “marry who you love” is a fundamental right, and the “separate but equal” treatment violates that right.

This argument against Proposition 8 not only mischaracterizes the issue, but does so in a way that is calculated to put supporters of traditional marriage on the defensive. The right to marry has never been an unfettered right. Even today, we maintain important restrictions on the right of individuals to marry. (For example, not permitting marriage between close relatives or prohibiting someone from being married to two people at the same time).

There is nothing in the text of either the California or United States Constitution that explicitly provides that same sex marriage is a “fundamental right.” Nor is there anything in our nation’s history or traditions that establish same sex marriage as a “fundamental right.” Only three states, Massachusetts, California, and Connecticut, even allow same sex marriage and all three states only recently “discovered” this right after their Supreme Courts ruled in closely divided decisions (4-3 votes in all three states) that such a right existed.

While, as a society, we may want to add individual rights, those rights are not necessarily “fundamental rights” and, in a democracy, weighty decisions such as creating new rights should be decided by a vote of the people—not judges.

The “separate but equal” argument is also misleading because Proposition 8 does not treat people separately. If Proposition 8 passes, no one will be prevented from marrying. Individuals in California will be free to marry so long as they marry someone of the opposite gender and so long as the marriage does not violate other long-standing regulations governing marriage in California.

Those who persist in arguing for the “fundamental right” to “marry who you love” face an additional hurdle. If everyone has the right to marry who you love, why wouldn’t three women who love each other be allowed to marry? What about polygamous marriage? Shouldn’t consenting adults in these types of relationships have the right to marry?

If same sex marriage is permissible because an individual has the right to marry whomever he or she loves, the only intellectually honest reason for prohibiting these types of extreme alternative marriages is that they are not socially acceptable. But once you accept that society has a right to limit some marriage relationships , you recognize society’s right to also define marriage in a way that benefits society as a whole. That is exactly what Proposition 8 does. That is why I’m voting for it.

A little while ago, I saw the new No on Prop 8 commericial with Jack O’ Connell the California superintendent. In this ad, he said that the “Yes on Prop 8″ campaign is lying. ” Proposition 8 will not effect children in schools. That teaching about marriage in schools is voluntary.” He is telling the truth, but only a small portion of the truth. Here is the rest of the truth from the California Department Of Education’s website :
HIV/AIDS prevention education and sex education are nearly universally
taught in California today. Ninety-four percent of surveyed schools
provide HIV/AIDS prevention education, as is mandated by law, and an
even larger number, 96%, provide sex education despite having no
requirement to do so.
(Sex Education in California Public Schools (PB Consulting and ACLU Northern California, 2003).)

Education Code (EC) 51933 specifies that school districts are not required
to provide comprehensive sexual health education, but if they choose to
do so, they shall comply with all of the requirements listed below.
… Instruction shall encourage communication between students and their
families and shall teach respect for marriage and committed
relationships.
(http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/he/se/sexeducation.asp).

the CDE’s Checklist for Comprehensive Sexual Health Education, described in the
document as a tool for school districts “to help guide your review of material for compliance with Education
Code (EC) 51933,” also states that to be in legal compliance the school must ensure that “Instruction and
materials teach respect for marriage and committed relationships.”

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Some parents are shocked to find their children are learning to be homosexual allies and will participate in “Coming Out Day” at a public elementary school tomorrow – and they claim the school failed to notify parents.

One mother of a kindergartner who attends Faith Ringgold School of Art and Science, a K-8 charter school in Hayward, Calif., said she asked her 5-year-old daughter what she was learning at school.

The little girl replied, “We’re learning to be allies.”

The mother also said a Gay Straight Alliance club regularly meets in the kindergarten classroom during lunch.

According to a Pacific Justice Institute report, Faith Ringgold opted not to inform the parents of its pro-homosexual activities beforehand. The school is celebrating “Gay and Lesbian History Month” and is in the process of observing “Ally Week,” a pro-“gay” occasion usually geared toward high school students.

The school is scheduled to host discussions about families and has posted fliers on school grounds portraying only homosexuals. According to the report, a “TransAction Gender-Bender Read-Aloud” will take place Nov. 20. Students will listen to traditional stories with “gay” or transgender twists, to include “Jane and the Beanstalk.”

Some parents only recently noticed posters promoting the school’s “Coming Out Day” tomorrow – celebrated 12 days after the national “Coming Out Day” usually observed on Oct. 11. When WND contacted the school to confirm the event, a female representative replied, “Yes, it is scheduled on our calendar.”

When asked if the school made any efforts to inform parents, she refused to answer and said Hayward Unified School District would have to respond to additional questions. However, the district did not answer its phones or e-mails, and a voicemail recording would not take messages. “Coming Out Day” is not listed on the district’s online school calendar.

(Story continues below)

Some of the parents contacted Pacific Justice Institute for representation when they learned the school was pushing pro-“gay” events for young children without warning.

Brad Dacus, president of Pacific Justice Institute, said opponents of California’s proposed ban on same-sex marriage, or Proposition 8, often say the measure would not have an effect on public schools – but this is one of many recent developments that prove otherwise.

“Do we need any further proof that gay activists will target children as early as possible?” he asked. “Opponents of traditional marriage keep telling us that Prop. 8 has nothing to do with education. In reality, they want to push the gay lifestyle on kindergartners, and we can only imagine how much worse it will be if Prop. 8 is defeated. This is not a scenario most Californians want replayed in their elementary schools.”

Concerned individuals may contact Faith Ringgold School of Art and Science by calling (510) 889-7399. The Hayward Unified School District can be reached at (510)784-2600 or by filling out the district contact form.

Please don’t be misled by the “no on prop 8” movement they are misrepresenting the facts. Please don’t be fooled check the facts yourself. Vote Yes on Prop. 8 to restore things to the way they were before Gavin Newsom decided to take the law into his own hands, and four activist decided to overturn what 61% of Californians voted on in 2000. YES on Proposition 8. Show them that we will not be taken advantage of.

I found a great blog post that explains very plainly why same sex marriage is not a civil rights issue. This post also uses facts to back it up. Kudos to you Cudweeds!

Here is an excerpt to get you interested:

……..This movement would like us to believe their agenda is a Civil Rights issue. Many buy into this because they are uneducated about what Civil Rights really mean.

According to the Supreme Court, three things must happen to qualify a class for Civil Rights protection.

1) History of discrimination evidenced by a lack of ability to obtain economic mean income, adequate education or cultural opportunity. Evidence shows us this is clearly not the case. What do the facts say?

a. Homosexuals have an average annual income of $55,430, over $20,000 more than the general populous.

b. More than 3 times as many homosexuals as average Americans are college graduates.c. 3 times as many homosexuals as average Americans hold professional or managerial positions

2) Protected classes should exhibit obvious, immutable or distinguishing characteristics, like race, color, gender, that define them as a discrete group. This is obviously not the case with homosexuals.

3) Protected classes should clearly demonstrate political powerlessness. All we have to do is watch the news or view the current debates in the halls of Congress to find this criteria is not met either.

It is clear that none of this criterion is met! So what then do we find to be the truth if we peer beyond this smoke screen? The issue is really one of the attempt to legitimize and normalizing their BEHAVIOR through public law! ……..

To get married you need a license. To get any kind of license you have to meet certain requirements. The two main requirements for have always been: You have to be the appropriate age for the state in which you plan to get married, and you need a husband(man) and a wife(woman). Those who are in a committed same gender relationship, do not meet those requirements. That is why they are not allowed to get married. It is not because they are being discriminated against or their civil rights are being violated. They simply do not meet the requirements. If they did, there would not have been such a mad rush to change the actual marriage license and all the paperwork pertaining to it, when the California supreme court over turned Prop. 22.

Would you argue that a blind person’s civil rights are being violated because they born that way and can not obtain a drivers license? Absolutely not. There are certain requirements for obtaining a drivers license, and I think we all know that being able to see is by far the most important one. But if you apply the same logic to this issue, that gay rights activist apply to marriage, then a blind person MUST be allowed to receive a driver license, because it isn’t his fault that he was born that way. It doesn’t matter how it will affect anyone else, his civil rights are being violated.

These definition was obtained from dictionary.com:

civil rights
pl.n. The rights belonging to an individual by virtue of citizenship, especially the fundamental freedoms and privileges guaranteed by the 13th and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and by subsequent acts of Congress, including civil liberties, due process, equal protection of the laws, and freedom from discrimination.

Please look at this objectively at this issue. Proposition 8 does not discriminate or take away the rights of anyone. Under California Family code 297.5 is states Very clearly that registered domestic partners have all the same rights and privileges as spouses. Check it out for yourself: